Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

About Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park lies along the Milk River in southern Alberta, near the Montana border, where the prairie breaks into a valley of eroded sandstone hoodoos. Known to the Blackfoot as Áísínai'pi, it holds one of the largest concentrations of rock art on the North American plains, and in 2019 it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Sweetgrass Hills rise on the southern horizon across the border.

Start at the visitor centre, which explains the cultural significance of the site and the meanings of the carvings and paintings. The Hoodoo Trail winds among wind-sculpted rock formations and passes several rock art sites protected behind fences. The Battle Scene Trail leads to a well-known panel depicting warriors and horses, and the Visitor Centre Trail offers an easy walk with valley views. Many of the most significant sites lie within a protected archaeological preserve that is open only on guided tours. A reconstructed North-West Mounted Police outpost recalls the late nineteenth century, when police patrolled the border here.

Paddlers float the Milk River on gentle summer currents, while hikers can explore a backcountry hiking zone. Birds and wildlife such as deer, pronghorn and raptors are common. Summer days are hot and dry, so carry water and plan hikes for early morning. The small town of Milk River provides supplies.